Nedra eBook

For five minutes they sat and discussed possibilities
and probabilities, fully realizing that they were
objects of awe to the savages. Finally the tall
one left the group and drew near the couple, approaching
in fine humility. When he was a dozen feet from
them, they arose, extending friendly hands toward
him. He dropped to his knees and fairly ground
his head upon the rock. Then he arose and came
directly to them. Hugh marvelled at his size.
Tremendous muscles, cords, knots and ridges stood,
out all over his symmetrical body. He peered intently
at the white man’s flesh and then dubiously
at his own. When he turned his inspection to
Tennys, his eyes riveted themselves upon her clear
white face, the most gorgeously beautiful flower he
ever had seen. He could not grasp the full glory
of that dazzling flower; he was stupefied, helpless
before the blue eyes and dazzling smile. In mute
idolatry he at last lifted his puzzled gaze to the
sun and then, extending his great arms upward, uttered
a few low, guttural appeals to the King of the sky.

“He thinks we are from the sun,” said
she, keenly ingenious.

“This fellow really seems quite willing to worship
us. The best we can do for the present is to
set ourselves up as idols. I think I can be a
very clever idol with precious little practice.
You can be one without an effort. Shall we set
up a worship shop among these decidedly willing subjects?”

“But, Hugh, if we go away from the coast we
cannot hope to see a white man again; these poor fellows
are now, for the first time, looking upon one.
Should we not stay here?” she asked, full of
fear and perplexity.

“If a white man ever finds this land he will
discover us. Besides, we cannot live on this
rock forever. It would only be a question of time
until we should starve or be killed by wild beasts.
I am in favor of retaining the very evident monopoly
we have established in this land of nowhere.”

“But if they should prove treacherous?”

“There’s no mistaking the honesty of their
wonder. We are real curiosities, and we have
only to follow up the advantage to become regular
despots.” He was enthused by the possibilities
that thronged his imagination.

“I will leave it all to you, Hugh. Do what
you think best,” she said softly and resumed
her seat on the rock.

With his heart quickened by the inspiration in that
trusting face, Hugh boldly stepped to the side of
the brown giant, deliberately taking his hand to lead
him to the edge of the precipice.

There, by signs and gesticulations, he endeavored
to tell him that they came from over the sea.
From the awed expression on the face of the savage
he guessed that he had increased the mystery.
It was quite evident that his auditor now believed
them to be from the bottom of the sea instead of from
the sun. To Hugh it mattered little as long as
he could have the wand of power over their heads.
He delighted the chief by making him understand that
he and his companion would accompany them in the boats.
The word was conveyed to his warriors, and a wild chatter
of joy went up from among them. They fell upon
their faces and groaned in mighty discord.